Drake Maye just coughed up his fifth turnover of the season, a truly bizarre fumble against the Jaguars in Week 3, and it’s solidified a terrifying trend for the young quarterback. This isn’t just a tough start; it’s a completely lackluster opening stretch to his third NFL season that looks nothing like the MVP runner-up version of Maye we saw dominate in 2025. Back then, we marveled at his precise passing, his strong decision making, and that clutch athleticism to scramble when the pocket broke down. Now? We’re watching him drop the ball, literally.
The Fumble That Made Jaws Drop (And Didn’t Involve Our D!)
So, the Patriots are grinding it out on the road against Jacksonville in Week 3. They went scoreless on their opening drive, not ideal. Then they get the ball back around the midway point of the first quarter. Rhamondre Stevenson makes a solid play, picks up a first down, and you’re thinking, “Okay, maybe they’re finally getting into rhythm.” Nope. Next play, Maye delivers one of the weirdest fumbles you’ll ever see. He’s not under pressure, not a single Jaguars defender is in his face. He fakes a handoff, looks to throw deep, starts that wind-up motion… and just lets go of the ball. It hits the ground, and DaVon Hamilton jumps on it for the takeaway. No contact, no hit, just… gone. It looked like a simple slip of the hand. You can’t even make that up. It adds to a concerning pattern, a pattern that definitely feels familiar to any 12s who watched him against us.
Maye’s Turnover Nightmare is Officially a Five-Alarm Fire
This isn’t just a one-off brain fart, folks. This bizarre fumble against the Jaguars marks his fifth turnover already this season. Let that sink in. Five! He’s currently tied for the lead in turnovers across the entire NFL. Think about that for a second. Even before this Sunday stunner, Maye was already tied for the league lead in interceptions after just two games. And we saw it firsthand in Week 1, didn’t we? Against *our* Seahawks, he threw three interceptions in *one quarter* in that game, which New England, predictably, lost. Then he threw another pick against the Steelers in Week 2 and couldn’t even manage a single touchdown pass in that entire game. This isn’t just bad luck. According to Matt McCarthy, a staggering 17 of the Patriots’ opponents’ 23 points this season have come directly off Maye’s turnovers. That’s a gift to the other team, plain and simple. Since the start of the 2025 NFL Playoffs, he’s racked up 13 turnovers. This latest one is his fifth through a mere nine quarters this season. That’s a rate that would give any coach sleepless nights.
You can’t ignore it anymore: turnovers are quickly growing into a significant concern for Drake Maye. This is a young star, a guy who led his team to the Super Bowl just last season, and now he’s making plays that are costing his team big. He had all that promise, all that hype. But if he doesn’t clean this up, and fast, this season is going to be a long, painful one. What kind of adjustments can he make? He has to figure out something because the current trend is just not sustainable for a “star” quarterback.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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